James "Dub" Pierce

Dub Pierce, 89, of Abilene, TX passed away on January 16th, 2025. 

 Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 pm Wednesday, January 22 at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. 

 Funeral services will be 10:01 am., Thursday, January 23, 2025 at First Baptist Church, 1333 North 3rd Street in Abilene, with Reverend C.V Blake officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park.

 James Wesley Pierce was born July 21st, 1935 in Hobbs, New Mexico to David Wesley Pierce and Vera Rutherford Pierce. As a child, he was given the nickname “Dub” and that was the name he was known by as well as the name “Coach”. When Dub was a young child, his father died, and Vera married Tom (Shorty) Sullivan, who raised him as his son. His family included two sisters, Leona and Thelma. Dub’s childhood taught him how to work, value friends, and attend church. At the age of 12, he made his profession of faith in Jesus. Throughout his life, Dub’s faith was very important to him.

 Dub attended school in Hobbs and graduated from Hobbs High School.

While in high school, he played basketball and baseball. He was “All District” in both sports. Dub’s first basketball coach, Ray Haynes, and his high school coach, Ralph Tasker, were role models to Dub during his school years. Coach Haynes taught him the importance of fundamentals and from Coach Tasker he learned respect. 

 After high school, Dub was interested in attending a Baptist college. Along with some friends, he enrolled in Hardin Simmons, and when HSU started a baseball program during his sophomore year, Dub made the team as a pitcher. Although he described himself as a “left-handed junk pitcher”, he was a 3-year letterman in the sport. Dub graduated from HSU with a Bachelor of Art’s degree in 1958 and then obtained a Master’s Degree from HSU in 1962. Dub was forever an HSU Cowboy.

 While at HSU, Dub met Otho Polk, who scolded him for playing and shooting baskets on the gym floor in his street shoes. When retelling this story, Dub would say that he got Otho back because he married Otho’s daughter, Betsy Ann Polk. Dub and Betsy would have celebrated 66 years together on January 31. They raised four children: Mark, Kim, Paige, and Kyle.

 Dub’s leadership in his family was strong, but fair. Through his example, he instilled in his kids the value of hard work. As his kids grew older, during the summer Dub would leave a list of chores for each child to accomplish “before Dad got home.” After many an evening meal and with no dishwasher, each child would be assigned a job involving the dirty dishes and the kids became affectionately known as “Wash, Rinse, Dry, and Put away.”

 Family time was also important to Dub. For many years in the summer after Dub completed teaching Driver’s Ed, the Pierce family would travel to Ruidoso, NM for vacation and making memories. Trips were also made to visit Dub’s mother in Hobbs, and traveling to Hobbs also meant a trip to Coach Tasker’s home for a visit. Christmas Eve remains a special memory with Dub as he traditionally read from the Bible the Christmas story before he and Betsy sent the four kids off to bed. As his kids grew, their acceptance of the faith that guided his life was a source of joy for Dub. 

 Dub taught and coached for 26 years in public education. He began in 1958-1959 in Loraine, Texas. His Abilene teaching career began in 1959, working at Dyess Elementary, College Heights Elementary and Mann Junior High before moving to Lincoln Junior High where he served for 13 years. While coaching at Lincoln, Dub’s teams were “City Champions” in football and basketball numerous years. 

 In 1975, Dub moved to Abilene High School and served as an assistant coach in football and basketball. Dub was an assistant basketball coach under James (Tater) Boynton, who Dub would later describe as being like a brother to him. He ultimately became the head basketball coach for Abilene High School and was voted Coach of the year in 1982 when his team won the district championship. When his coaching days concluded, he served as an Associate Principal at AHS, and during his tenure was named Region 14 Outstanding Assistant Principal. Dub retired from public education in 1996.

 Professionally, Dub served on the advisory board of the “Texas High School Coaches Association”; chaired the “North All Stars” selection and served as an assistant coach of the North All Stars. He was a member of the Texas State Teacher Association and Abilene Retired Teachers. 

 After retirement, Dub enjoyed traveling and driving “Miss Betsy”, watching their grandchildren participate in various activities, and driving up to HSU to see the different sports teams practice.

He also enjoyed the banter and roasting of his fellow coaches and sports enthusiasts at the Athletic Supply Coffee round table and a good Larry’s hamburger. For 16 years of his retirement, Dub volunteered at Sam Thomas Elementary, where he helped many young readers practice their skills. A lifelong educator, upon meeting a young person Dub would inevitably ask about what school they attended. 

 Dub and Betsy are long time members of First Baptist Church, Abilene. Dub served First Baptist as a deacon and for many years chaired the hospital visitation team. A leader by example, Dub made many hospital visits to members of First Baptist and to others in the Abilene community. 

 Dub is survived by his wife, Betsy; children Mark (Gilda) Pierce, Kim (Jay) Miers, Paige (Matthew) Robinson, Kyle (Didi) Pierce; grandchildren Samuel (Chelsea), Nathan (Meredith), Alyssa, Sarah, Ashley (Jackson), David, and Allison; greatgrandchildren Brooke, Ayden, Grant, Elise and Clara; nephews David Johnson, Robbie Polk, Wade Polk; nieces Barbara Cecil, Wendy Crider; brothers-in-law Richard Johnson, Jerry Polk, and Sister-in-Law Linda Polk.

 Preceding Dub in death were his parents, in-laws, sisters, and his eldest grandchild, Zach Robinson.

 Pall bearers will be David Pierce, Nathan Robinson, Samuel Miers, Virginio Flores, Henry Willis, Dean Glover, Byron Roberts. 

Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Voss, Don Bridges, Jeff Goodin, LaMart Harris, and all his former athletes and students.

Memorial Pallbearer will be Dub’s grandson, Zach Robinson.

 Memorials may be given to The Dub and Betsy Pierce Endowed Scholarship for Teaching at Hardin Simmons University, The Otho M. Polk Endowed Memorial Scholarship at Hardin Simmons University, or the Zach Robinson Scholarship at the Community Foundation of Abilene.

 Dub’s family wishes to extend our thankfulness to the Staff of Wisteria’s Legacy Lane who loved Dub and cared for him.